$8 Million Awarded to Family After Neighbor Claims Autistic Boy is a Nuisance

A California neighbor was so upset by the sounds a boy with autism made in his backyard that she sued his family. But the fight didn’t end the way she hoped. A jury awarded the family $8 million after they fought back in court.

The dispute began in San Jose, where Serena Arvayo lived with her son, Ezekiel, and her parents. Known as Zeek, the boy has severe autism and cannot speak. When he gets excited, he sometimes makes loud sounds to express himself.

Their next-door neighbor, Janine Chun Lu, complained that the noise was disturbing her peace and affecting her property value. What began as a problem between neighbors soon became a painful ordeal for the family.

Arvayo tried to keep the peace, but the complaints continued. She eventually moved away with Zeek, hoping to put the trouble behind them. Instead, the dispute followed them into court.

An $8 Million Verdict

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A Santa Clara County jury awarded the Arvayo family $8 million in a countersuit against Lu, according to NBC Bay Area. The verdict followed years of conflict over Zeek’s behavior and the way his neighbor treated him.

For Serena, being told her son was a nuisance had been especially painful. The word made her feel as though he was being treated like a problem rather than a child.

“You use that for maybe an animal or a car alarm that won’t go off, but not an autistic individual,” she told NBC Bay Area.

Just Chasing Bubbles

Long before either side went to court, Zeek enjoyed spending weekends in the backyard. One of his favorite activities was chasing bubbles, which sometimes made him so happy that he would grunt or make other sounds.

Those noises are known as vocal stimming. For Zeek, they were a way to express feelings he couldn’t put into words.

On May 28, 2022, Lu approached Serena as she was getting ready to take her son to a park. According to the family’s March 2024 court filing, Lu wanted Zeek kept out of the backyard or allowed outside only for short periods.

Serena explained her son’s condition and why he made those sounds. The filing claims Lu then asked whether autism could be cured, right in front of the boy.

Rather than argue, Serena offered her phone number and asked Lu to contact her directly if anything else bothered her.

Complaints Keep Coming

The offer did little to settle things. Lu began sending complaints to the family’s landlord, Marc Goubert, including one message in June 2022 that described Zeek’s noises as “so disgusting!”

She also claimed he had been playing outside without an adult nearby. The family disputed that, explaining in court papers that someone was always watching him, either from the yard or through the kitchen windows.

By that summer, Serena felt she had reached her limit. She and Zeek moved into another home, leaving her parents behind and taking on higher housing costs.

Visits with his grandparents became stressful, too. According to the family, they worried that spending time together at the house would bring more complaints.

Not Over Yet

Despite Serena and Zeek moving out, Lu sued the family and their landlord in December 2023. She claimed the noise had disrupted her work, caused emotional distress, and made it harder to enjoy her property.

The family filed a countersuit the following March, accusing Lu of harassment and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Their court papers also alleged that she had recorded Zeek while he played outside.

Lu’s nuisance lawsuit was dismissed in September 2026, according to KRON4. The family’s case continued, leading to the reported $8 million jury award.

The experience changed how Serena approaches neighbors. She told NBC that she now introduces Zeek when moving somewhere new and invites people to speak with her if they have concerns.

After years of feeling that her son was unwelcome, the jury’s decision meant more to her than money.

“My son was represented with dignity, and that was the most important thing for him, to have the dignity he deserves,” she said.